Sickness

Dear Followers...

I have been sick since Saturday and have not felt up to blogging.

I know that I was supposed to post the final chapters of Pride & Prejudice last Saturday but I guess they will have to wait until this coming Saturday.

My dearest apologies for those of you who are following along.

 I am so looking forward to posting this Saturday!

Optimistically, Bethany Lea

P.S.

For those of you who are sick or know someone who is sick....I hope we all get better soon!

Pride & Prejudice: Part 3, Chapters 1-9

We left off at the part when Elizabeth decides she wants to visit Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's estate, with her aunt & uncle...

Part 3...

Chapter 1:

• Elizabeth is nervous and excited as their carriage approaches Pemberley.
• Historical Context Lesson: Proper middle-class folk, like Elizabeth and her family, could visit grand estates belonging to people like Mr. Darcy. Think of it as their version of MTV Cribs, except they get to do it in person.
• The housekeeper shows them around the house.
• Elizabeth is delighted with every beautiful detail and she can’t help thinking about how she might have been mistress of it all. Then she checks herself, realizing she would not have been able to invite her beloved aunt and uncle to visit if she had been (because Darcy would think her relatives beneath him).
• When asked, the housekeeper informs them that the master is away but is expected tomorrow with friends.
• Mrs. Gardiner calls Elizabeth over to see a painting of Mr. Wickham.
• The housekeeper explains that Wickham was a son of late master’s steward. He has gone in the army, she says, and has become very wild.
• Though Mrs. Gardiner smiles knowingly at Elizabeth, Elizabeth can’t return the smile.
• The housekeeper states positively that Mr. Darcy is the best landlord and the best master ever.
• She shows the rooms Mr. Darcy set up specifically to make his sister happy.
• Elizabeth begins to think maybe Mr. Darcy is a good man after all, and that she has really misjudged him.
• As they leave the house to go look at the gardens, Elizabeth and the Gardiners turn to look back. At that moment, Mr. Darcy arrives, and they see each other.
• Both Elizabeth and Darcy blush.
• He comes forward and greets her with perfect civility, his entire manner toward her different than before, and he inquires after her family.
• But both feel awkward and ill at ease and soon he turns to go.
• Elizabeth feels shame and chagrin, wondering how her appearance at his house must seem so vain. Yet she had never seen him in a gentler light than at this moment.
• Elizabeth can’t keep from thinking about Darcy as they continue walking around the grounds, wondering what is in his mind right now and whether his feelings toward her have changed.
• As they head back towards the house to reach their carriage, Mr. Darcy approaches them. He asks her to introduce him to her friends.
• She thinks slyly that he will be surprised to hear they are family; indeed, she wonders if he will be horrified and excuse himself when he realizes it.
• Darcy, however, continues to be friendly. Elizabeth is so happy at every comment her uncle makes that shows his intelligence, taste, and good manners.
• Mr. Darcy invites Mr. Gardiner to come fish at his personal pond. He will make tackle available.
• Mrs. Gardiner looks at Elizabeth with wonder and surprise.
• Elizabeth recognizes that Darcy’s behavior is all for her sake. She wonders if Mr. Darcy still loves her, but thinks he can’t possibly have changed and become a better person simply because of her comments.
• Soon, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are walking together and Elizabeth finds herself walking with Mr. Darcy.
• He invites her to meet his sister, who will be coming tomorrow along with Mr. Bingley and his sisters.
• Elizabeth knows that his wish to introduce her to his sister is the biggest compliment he can pay her.
• When Elizabeth and the Gardiners get in the carriage to go home, they pronounce Mr. Darcy perfect in every way. They wonder why Elizabeth had said he was so disagreeable before. They question the fact that his behavior differed so dramatically from Wickham’s description.
• Elizabeth tries to let them know, with as much discreetness as possible, that Wickham is not as reliable as they had all believed.

Chapter 2:

• The very morning of Miss Darcy’s arrival, she and Mr. Darcy come to call on Elizabeth and the Gardiners.
• Elizabeth is anxious, worried that she won’t please Miss Darcy and wanting to very much.
• Her nervousness, and the Darcys’ arrival, make the Gardiners realize that something is afoot – that perhaps Mr. Darcy thinks more of their niece than has been suspected before.
• Upon observing the two together, it’s clear to the Gardiners that Mr. Darcy is in love with Elizabeth.
• Elizabeth soon realizes that Miss Darcy is not proud, only very shy.
• Mr. Bingley arrives, glad to see them all. Elizabeth scrutinizes his behavior towards Miss Darcy and is glad to see that nothing that would indicate that he’s remotely romantically interested in the girl.
• Before they leave, the Darcys invite everyone to Pemberley for dinner the night after next.
• Bingley is pleased and says he has a lot to talk to Elizabeth about, wanting to inquire after all their acquaintances in Hertfordshire. Elizabeth realizes that he wants to talk to her about her sister.
• The Gardiners soon discover that people in Lambton have a great opinion of Darcy, while they don’t have many kind words for Wickham. They think that’s telling. If anybody would know whether Mr. Darcy is actually cruel and unjust, it would be the people who have lived near him all his life.
• Elizabeth stays awake that night, examining her feelings towards Mr. Darcy. The overwhelming emotion she feels is gratitude – gratitude that he loved/loves her enough not to hold her petulant behavior against her.
• Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner decided earlier in the evening that Miss Darcy’s striking hospitality requires a response, so they will visit her the next morning.

Chapter 3:

Elizabeth now realizes that Miss Bingley’s behavior toward her has been motivated by jealousy and wonders how she will respond when they meet that morning.

Miss Darcy is civil but shy, while Miss Bingley and her sister are simply courteous.

Miss Bingley observes Elizabeth closely.

Mr. Darcy enters the room, having heard from Mr. Gardiner, who is fishing, that Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth were planning a visit.

As soon as Darcy enters, all eyes are upon him, wondering how he will behave towards Elizabeth. Miss Bingley tries to incite Elizabeth to make a favorable comment about Wickham, knowing that Darcy despises him but not knowing the full story. She has no idea the pain she is causing both the Darcys, but Elizabeth answers in a composed manner.

When Mr. Darcy sees Elizabeth out to their carriage, Miss Bingley starts abusing Elizabeth.

Miss Darcy refuses to join in, since her brother thinks so highly of Elizabeth.

When Mr. Darcy returns, Miss Bingley continues her attack, hoping to make him think unkindly of Elizabeth. But she can’t rouse him.

At last he admits that he thinks Elizabeth one of the most attractive women he knows.

So, as the narrator remarks archly, Miss Bingley managed to provoke him to say something that is only painful to herself.

On the way home, Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner talk about everything except what they want to talk about most – Mr. Darcy.

Chapter 4:

• Elizabeth receives two letters from Jane, and learns that Lydia has run off with Wickham.
• A few minutes later, as she is jumping up to tell the Gardiners that they must leave immediately, Mr. Darcy enters the room.
• She relays her news, she cries, she excites compassion in him – all at the same time thinking that surely he must be more disgusted than ever to hear about this weakness in her family.
• After he leaves, she wonders with regret whether she will ever see him again.
• According to her letters, Jane, always the optimist, thinks that Mr. Wickham will marry Lydia. Elizabeth is much more of a realist. Lydia has no money, so there’s nothing to tempt Wickham to marry her.
• The Gardiners arrive, hear the news, and they all proceed to make arrangements to immediately bring Elizabeth home.

Chapter 5:

• As they head back home, the Gardiners try to put the best face on the situation.
• They say Wickham can’t possibly mean not to marry Lydia. Could he expect the regiment not to take action for such an offense?
• But Elizabeth is not convinced. She knows Wickham will never marry a woman who has no money. She reveals to the Gardiners that she knows more about Wickham than she has let anybody know, and she has good reason to believe that he has no scruples to speak of.
• At home, Mrs. Bennet is inconsolable and throwing fits, believing that Mr. Bennet will fight Wickham and die and then the Collinses will turn them all out of the house.
• Mr. Gardiner assures her that he will go to London immediately to help Mr. Bennet find Lydia.
• Kitty and Mary are grave but not as distressed. Mary only says that they can learn moral lessons about female virtue from Lydia’s downfall.
• Jane and Elizabeth repeat the rumors they’ve heard from Wickham’s superiors and friends, and try to guess whether Lydia and Wickham might actually have gotten married or not.
• They note that Wickham’s superior spoke less highly of Wickham than he had in the past, and that it is said he left Meryton in debt.
• They examine Lydia’s letter and are relieved to realize that she, at least, had serious intentions to get married, whatever Wickham’s intentions were.

Chapter 6:

• All of Meryton spreads rumors about Wickham, although a few months earlier, they had called him an "angel of light."
• Mr. Gardiner writes to say he has tried to find out from Wickham’s direct superior if he has any relatives or friends who might hide him in London; but on second thought, Elizabeth might be in a better position than anybody to give that information.
• Elizabeth understands this as a reference to her relationship with Darcy.
• They receive a letter from Mr. Collins, who says that Lydia’s actions will forever ruin the chance that the other daughters will marry. He congratulates himself on not marrying Elizabeth after all. He suggests that they cut Lydia out of their life forever.
• Mr. Gardiner writes to relay the news that things might be worse than feared – Mr. Wickham has left gambling debts of more than a thousand pounds.
• Mr. Bennet, heartsick and on his way home from London empty handed, is convinced there is nothing more he can do. Mr. Gardiner will continue the search.
• Elizabeth has heard nothing from Mr. Darcy, a fact that gives her a couple of sleepless nights.
• Mrs. Gardiner also wonders about Mr. Darcy, but given the family tragedy, she can’t determine how Elizabeth feels.
• Mr. Bennet, on his return, says he has finally learned his lesson to be cautious with his daughters. A little late, Mr. Bennet.

Chapter 7:

• Mr. Gardiner finally sends word that the two lovers have been found. They are not yet married, but they will be. They only ask for a small yearly sum of money.
• Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth discuss the fact that somebody else, probably Mr. Gardiner, must have paid a great deal of money to convince Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia because otherwise, they wouldn’t be asking for such a small annual sum.
• Mr. Bennet believes that a payment of 10,000 pounds (a ton of money) was probably required to make Mr. Wickham to marry Lydia.
• Elizabeth, knowing Mr. Wickham has not a penny to his name and that debts must also have been settled, realizes the generosity of her uncle.
• Mrs. Bennet is delighted at the news that her daughter will soon be married. She selfishly thinks it perfectly right for Mr. Gardiner to pay to arrange the marriage. After all, he has money and they don’t.

Chapter 8:

• Mr. Bennet had never saved money, assuming that he would eventually have a son who would then inherit the family estate. A son never arrived. Girl after girl after girl after girl after girl….By then, it was too late to start saving for the girls’ future.
• He writes a letter of thanks to his brother-in-law, Mr. Gardner, for essentially bribing Wickham into marrying Lydia, but he's especially thankful for how little this marriage will cost him.
• Mrs. Bennet discusses the wedding plans, but Mr. Bennet says he will not give his daughter even the tiniest amount of money for wedding clothing, and he refuses to receive the couple at Longbourn.
• Historical Context Lesson: "Receiving" someone is similar to diplomatic recognition. If no one receives you, you basically don’t exist in their eyes.
• Elizabeth begins to wish she had never told Mr. Darcy about the Lydia-Wickham situation. Now that the couple is getting married, everything looks perfectly respectable on the surface, and she could have concealed her family’s weaknesses from him.
• At the same time, she acknowledges that all hope of his attachment and connection to her family is probably lost. How happy he would be to know that his proposal, spurned a few months earlier, would be so gladly accepted now! He would love to rub that in her face, she thinks.
• She begins to realize how perfect Mr. Darcy is for her, in temperament and talent.
• Mr. Gardiner writes that Mr. Bennet should never mention the debt again. He also says that Wickham has been convinced to leave his regiment and take up the Regulars (another variety of military service) so he will not be settled in the vicinity.
• Elizabeth and Jane prevail on Mr. Bennet to receive his daughter and Wickham in his house after their marriage. He agrees.

Chapter 9:

• When the couple arrives on their wedding day, their "easy assurance" shocks everybody except Mrs. Bennet. They don’t seem to think they’ve done anything wrong.
• Lydia is anxious to see everybody she knows to let them know she is married. She seems to have little sense that she should be ashamed.
• Wickham’s affection for Lydia is not as great as hers for him – just as Elizabeth suspected.
• Lydia lets it slip that Mr. Darcy was at her wedding. Oops, she admits, she wasn’t supposed to have said anything at all but the damage is done now….
• Elizabeth says she won’t pressure Lydia for more information. But, burning with curiosity, she dashes off a note to her aunt asking for an explanation.

With only 10 more chapters to go...there are so many questions left unanswered at this point!

For those of you who have already finished the novel, don't give anything away :)

I hope that as you are reading the last chapters of this book, that you'll love it as much as I do!

Thanks for reading and following along!

Next Saturday, I will post the summary for chapters 10-19 :)

I am so excited!

I love this book :)))

Optimistically, Bethany Lea

Pride & Prejudice :) The End of Part 2!

As you all know, I didn't post anything last Saturday for Pride and Prejudice.

I had too much on my plate for blogging :)

Today, we are supposed to have a discussion about Part 3...

However, I thought I would go ahead and catch up by posting the last chapters of part 2. (The ones that I failed to post last Saturday)

:)

ENJOY!

Part 2: Chapters 10-19

WARNING: These chapters contain lots of drama!!!

10:

• Elizabeth often meets Mr. Darcy while she’s out walking.
• She finds this an odd coincidence, especially since she had told him it was a favorite spot of hers…so that he would avoid it. She’s assuming that he doesn’t like her and wouldn’t want to run into her like that.
• Darcy makes some comments that makes her believe he is alluding to Fitzwilliam, and she wonders if Fitzwilliam is interested in her.
• Elizabeth winces when Fitzwilliam comes to Charlotte’s house one day and catches her alone.
• Their discussion meanders from marriage to Miss Darcy. Elizabeth comments that if she is like her older brother, she must like to get her own way.
• Colonel Fitzwilliam looks at her closely and asks what she has heard to suppose that Miss Darcy is any trouble. Elizabeth says she’s heard nothing at all; she was teasing.
• Then Fitzwilliam reveals that Darcy convinced Bingley not to make an imprudent marriage. There were, he states, some very strong objections against the young lady. Fitzwilliam clearly doesn’t realize the "young lady" is Elizabeth’s sister.
• Elizabeth gets mad but tries not to show it. She guesses that the objections must be her family, the fact that Jane does not come from the right social class.
• Elizabeth grows increasingly upset until she has such a headache that she can’t go to tea at Rosings with the Collinses.

11:

The first time I read this book, I thought that Darcy & Elizabeth would never end up together because of this scene in this chapter.

• Left alone after the Collinses leave for tea, Elizabeth continues to think about what she just learned.
• The doorbell rings and it is Mr. Darcy, come to inquire after her health.
• To Elizabeth's complete astonishment, Mr. Darcy suddenly makes a declaration of love.
• Her shocked silence encourages him so he speaks about how he has long felt this way and how he tried to repress his interest in her because of her inferior position in life.
• The more he talks, the angrier Elizabeth gets. She tells herself she will refuse him patiently when he is finally done.
• When he is done, however, she lectures him about the manner of his proposal. She has no affectionate feelings for him, she announces, and she cannot imagine saying yes to a man who is the reason that her sister is so unhappy.
• Mr. Darcy tries to explain that he feels he did his friend (Mr. Bingley) a favor.
• Elizabeth also points out that his behavior toward Wickham has been despicable.
• Mr. Darcy responds that perhaps she might not have reacted so angrily to his proposal if he had concealed the difficulty he had in coming to terms with his love for her (because of her family and social position), but "disguise of every sort" is his "abhorrence."
• Elizabeth gets angrier and angrier and finally tells him, in short, that he is the last man in the world that she would marry.
• And so he leaves.

 

12:

• The next day, Elizabeth meets Mr. Darcy out on her walk. He has been looking for her and he hands her a letter that he has written.
• In the letter, he addresses first the charge that he considers least serious, that of his willful and deliberate acts to prevent Jane and Mr. Bingley’s engagement. He had not felt that Jane really loved Mr. Bingley, though he now realizes he was mistaken. And he was concerned by the behavior of all members of the Bennet family, with the exception of Jane and Elizabeth herself.
• He has no shame for playing a part in all this, but he feels that it was beneath him to have prevented Mr. Bingley from knowing that Jane was in London. He does regret that.
• As for Wickham, Darcy writes that he had indeed carried out his father’s wishes and given Wickham an inheritance, but Wickham squandered the money and then asked for more. When Darcy refused, Wickham managed to worm his way into Darcy’s little sister Georgiana’s heart and tried to elope with her. She was only fifteen.

13:

Also known as: "Elizabeth Realizes Her Idiocy."

• When Elizabeth first reads Darcy's letter, she is still angry, feeling that the letter is no apology for Darcy’s behavior.
• She is, however, aghast to learn about Wickham. She doesn’t want to believe it, so she puts the letter away, saying she will not read it or think about it again.
• But she can’t help herself.
• Elizabeth goes for a long, long walk and reads the letter several times over, realizing that if what Mr. Darcy says is true, it means he is completely blameless in the Wickham affair.
• At first, she tries to exculpate Wickham by remembering something he had done that would exonerate his character, but she can’t remember anything.
• Then she realizes how inappropriate it was for Wickham to have said anything to her about Mr. Darcy at all on their first meeting.
• Thinking even harder, she remembers how Wickham waited until the Netherfield contingent had left before he spread his anti-Darcy story wide and far, and she begins to realize that Wickham is guilty of character assassination.
• She also realizes that, as odious as Mr. Darcy might be to her, she has never observed anything immoral or unscrupulous in his character.
• She is ashamed of herself. Her pride in her own powers of character analysis has blinded her. She has been prejudiced against Darcy.
• In light of her new understanding, she re-reads his account of his actions towards Jane and Bingley. Now she can’t deny that he was speaking the truth. Jane didn’t, after all, wear her heart on her sleeve.
• As for his unflattering words about her family, Elizabeth can’t help but acknowledge their truth.
• When she returns to the house, Elizabeth discovers that Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam had dropped by to say good-bye (they're heading out of town), but they had had to leave before she returned.

14:

• Though Darcy and Fitzwilliam are gone Lady Catherine sends an invitation for Elizabeth and the Collinses to come around, as she is bored and wants company.
• Lady Catherine tries to convince Elizabeth to stay at Charlotte's house for a longer visit. When she cannot persuade Elizabeth, she makes a big deal about how Elizabeth needs a servant to accompany her on her trip home.
• By now, Elizabeth has re-read Darcy’s letter so often that she has it memorized. Her feelings are still muddled; sometimes she feels compassion for him, and other times she’s angry with his general attitude.
• But for her own behavior toward Darcy, Elizabeth feels nothing but regret.
• As to her family, she thinks it is impossible to ever get them to behave.
• Darcy letter did restore Bingley’s reputation in her mind, and she feels sad that Jane has been deprived of marital happiness because of her family’s foolish behavior.

15: 

• Mr. Collins wishes Elizabeth a good trip home, but not before going on and on about how happy he is in his marriage, how he and Charlotte think with one mind, how fortunate they are to have Lady Catherine’s patronage, etc.
• Elizabeth arrives at the Gardiner house, where she will stay for a few days, then takes Jane home with her.
• Elizabeth doesn’t know what she should tell Jane about Darcy's letter and what she should keep secret. She doesn’t want to upset her sister further.

16:

• The girls meet their youngest sisters, Kitty and Lydia, near the inn where they were to meet the Bennet carriage.
• They eat together, while Lydia tells the latest news about Wickham: Mary King, the girl he was courting, has gone to stay with her uncle in Liverpool. So, Lydia says, Wickham is safe – and, Elizabeth thinks, Mary King is the safe one.
• Lydia entertains them all the way home with stories. Elizabeth notices how often the young girl mentions Wickham’s name.
• At home, Lydia wants to go to Meryton, but Elizabeth says no. She does not want the town to talk about how the Bennet girls are barely home before they’re running off to see men; and furthermore, she dreads seeing Wickham.

17:

• When Elizabeth is finally able to tell Jane about Mr. Darcy’s proposal, Jane feels sorry for Mr. Darcy’s disappointment.
• When Elizabeth tells her Darcy’s side of the Wickham story, she struggles. Jane has a hard time thinking poorly of either man. Ultimately, though, she is persuaded.
• Elizabeth wonders if she should expose Mr. Wickham’s awful character, but she thinks not because she cannot expose him without telling all the details related to Miss Darcy, which Mr. Darcy specifically asked her not to do.
• Elizabeth is perfectly silent about her new information regarding Bingley, realizing that it would just wound Jane rather than bring her comfort.
• As for Jane, she is not happy and still regards Mr. Bingley with affection.
• Mrs. Bennet, for her part, is bitter over idea of losing her house to Charlotte Collins at some point in the distant future. She tells Elizabeth that she bets the Collinses talk about it all the time. Elizabeth says that they never mentioned it in front of her.

18:

• The younger girls are despondent because the military regiment (i.e., the attractive men) will be leaving soon. But the wife of the regiment’s colonel invites Lydia to go to Brighton with them.
• Elizabeth advises her father not to let Lydia go, pointing out the likelihood of Lydia’s impropriety and imprudence.
• Mr. Bennet is inclined to let the youngest Bennet girl go, saying any follies Lydia might commit in Brighton will be less likely to embarrass them locally.
• Elizabeth says that Lydia’s wildness already shames the entire family and hurts their reputation (she’s thinking of how Darcy views the Bennet family).
• She speaks with passion and her father recognizes it, but he says that Jane and Elizabeth’s reputations cannot possibly be hurt by their three very silly sisters.
• Lydia would have been furious if she had known that Elizabeth was trying to deny her the joy of flirting with untold numbers of men.
• Elizabeth can now finally say goodbye to Wickham. She has seen plenty of him and now abhors parts of his personality which before seemed delightful.
• When she has a chance, she informs Wickham that she spent three weeks in the company of Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. She lets Wickham know that she liked the Colonel immensely, and adds that Mr. Darcy’s personality and manners improve as she gets to know him better.
• Wickham is alarmed and agitated. He tries to engage Elizabeth in abusing Mr. Darcy, as they used to do, but Elizabeth just smiles.
• When the party is over, Lydia goes with her friend to Meryton; in the morning, they will leave for Brighton.

19:

• Elizabeth realizes that her parents’ marriage is not a model marriage, and her father’s amusement at his wife’s foolishness has always made her feel badly.
• Elizabeth now sees how such an unfortunate marriage affects children, and she begins to judge her father. Although Mrs. Bennet might have be silly and vain, he could have protected his daughters and raised them as respectable young women.
• Lydia writes rarely and mostly about the new gowns she has bought or her latest flirtations.
• Mrs. Gardiner writes to say that she and her husband are going to Derbyshire. Elizabeth is invited to go with them. Derbyshire is Mr. Darcy’s country and Elizabeth wonders if she will be able to enjoy it without constantly thinking about him.
• Soon Elizabeth is in Derbyshire and Mrs. Gardiner urges her to visit Pemberley, Darcy’s estate.
• Elizabeth doesn’t want to go, for obvious reasons. But that evening, the chambermaid lets her know that the family is not down for the summer. That means there’s no risk of running into Darcy.
• The next morning, Elizabeth tells her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner she would like to go see Pemberley after all.

What a good place to stop! At this point in the novel, ANYTHING can happen! 
I can't wait to post the first half of part 3! (Chapters 1-9)

And so the novel continues into Part 3.....
which will be posted sometime later today. (if time allows)
 :)



Question #1

 When I read this part of the book, I would always ask myself...
"If I were Elizabeth would I tell my sister about the letter?"
So now I'm asking you....

Would you tell your sister about the letter or keep it a secret???

As the older sister in my family I would tell my younger sister about the letter because I would feel that it is my responsibility, but if I were younger than my sister, like Elizabeth is to Jane, I wouldn't know if I would tell her or not. It would make me feel bad if I didn't tell her, but at the same time, telling her might only make her more upset. I'm a very indecisive person and I'm curious about what decision you would make :)

Question #2

If you were Mr. Bennet, would you let Lydia go to Brighton, knowing that she might cause your family some kind of embarrassment?

 For me, this question is hard to answer. If I were the one making the decision, I would probably try to keep Lydia at home, and away from the military regiment. Stupid decisions that you make, often effect more than just you, and I wouldn't be willing to take any risks with my younger daughters, the ones that I know make terrible choices and are extremely immature.

Thanks for reading along! This book has gone so much faster than expected!
I can't wait until we finish discussion next Saturday!

Keep Reading!

Optimistically, Bethany Lea

Gallbladder Memories :)

Just to let all my followers know......

Gallbladder removal surgery was a success!

I'm feeling a little bit better and wanted to share some of the amazing things that I got <3

Chocolate Covered Strawberries :)

Roses <3

Colorful Flowers...

Stuffed Animals

& plenty of visitors :)))

I can't wait to get back to school!

Hopefully, I'll be up to blogging again...very soon :)

Have a great day!

I love you all!

Optimistically, Bethany Lea

Part 2, Chapters 1-9---Pride & Prejudice Discussion

YEAH!

We are discussing part 2 of Pride & Prejudice!

How Exciting!

Chapters 1-9 of Part 2 caused a lot of drama in the book.

If you've been following along, you should have noticed that the focus of the novel is not entirely on the relationship between Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth Bennet, with new characters in the plot line…

the novel takes on many more twists and turns.

Like always, a few key points from the novel thus far…

J

Part II, Chapter One

A letter from Miss Bingley arrives at long last, and it is clear that the Bingleys will not return for the winter.

Jane’s matrimonial hopes are dashed.

Elizabeth spends a lot of time wondering what happened. Was Bingley waylaid by his sister? Did his friend Mr. Darcy convince him not to pay any more attention to Jane?

Jane expresses her sorrow but says that she has nobody to reproach but herself.

Elizabeth declares that the world doesn’t make sense – and by this, she means Bingley's loss of interest in Jane, Darcy’s treatment of Wickham, and Charlotte’s marriage to Mr. Collins.

She also lets Jane know that she believes Mr. Bingley was negatively influenced by his sisters and Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Bennet jokes to Elizabeth that Jane has been crossed in love which, next to matrimony, is what girls want most.

Will Elizabeth be next to get a broken heart? Mr. Bennet asks. He suggests that Mr. Wickham is just the right man to jilt her.

The Bennets spend a lot of time with Wickham. The story of Mr. Darcy’s treatment of him becomes widely known in town.

Everybody congratulates themselves that they already disliked Mr. Darcy before even knowing the story.

Jane is the only one who refuses to condemn Mr. Darcy, suggesting that there might be more to the story. (Good job sticking up for your sister’s man)

Part II, Chapter Two

Mrs. Bennet’s brother and his wife, the Gardiners, arrive at Longbourn for a visit.

Mrs. Bennet complains to her sister-in-law, Mrs. Gardiner, about how she almost had two daughters married and now has nothing.

Mrs. Gardiner speaks to Elizabeth about her concern for Jane, who isn’t the type of girl to recover easily from the Mr. Bingley letdown.

Elizabeth also asserts that Mr. Bingley’s regard for Jane did appear to be genuine and deep.

Mrs. Gardiner suggests a change of scene. Would Jane like to come stay with them in London for a while? The likelihood that she will run into Bingley is small.

Mrs. Gardiner notices the attraction between Elizabeth and Wickham and it makes her uneasy. She resolves to speak to Elizabeth about it.

Nevertheless, Mrs. Gardiner and Wickham have a lot in common because she grew up near Pemberley, the Darcy estate, and knew the senior Mr. Darcy.

Part II, Chapter Three

Mrs. Gardiner warns Elizabeth not to fall in love with Wickham.

Elizabeth says she will not encourage him because, although he is the most agreeable man she has ever met, she sees that it wouldn’t be a smart match because he has no fortune to speak of. However, her father likes Wickham, so if it happens, it happens, she tells her aunt.

The Gardiners and Jane leave for London.

Charlotte and Mr. Collins are married and Charlotte asks Elizabeth to come visit her in Hunsford, on Lady Catherine’s estate. Elizabeth agrees.

Jane writes to say that she has visited Caroline Bingley and the visit went well; Miss Bingley said that her brother spends all his time with Mr. Darcy and she scarcely sees him herself. Jane hopes Miss Bingley would visit her soon.

Jane writes again to say that Miss Bingley visited after two weeks; her visit was short and her manner wasn't very affectionate. Jane realizes that all hope is gone. She has lost Mr. Bingley forever.

Wickham is now paying attention to another young lady who has a great deal more money than Elizabeth.

Elizabeth realizes she must not have been in love with Wickham since she is not very hurt by his sudden swerve in attention.

Part II, Chapter Four

In March, Elizabeth leaves to visit Charlotte in Hunsford along with Charlotte’s family.

She says an affectionate good-bye to Wickham, even though he is now paying attention to another woman.

Elizabeth reflects that Wickham will always be her model of perfect amiability in a man.

Elizabeth and Charlotte’s family stop to visit Jane in London on the way.

Jane looks OK, but Mrs. Gardiner lets Elizabeth know that Jane is still suffering, even though she had thoroughly given up any expectations of a relationship with Mr. or Miss Bingley.

Mrs. Gardiner also takes back her approval of Wickham, arguing that his switch in his affections from Elizabeth to a young woman who had recently inherited money makes him look bad.

Elizabeth defends him as best she can and reveals that perhaps she is more hurt by Wickham than she cares to admit.

Part II, Chapter Five

Elizabeth and the Lucases arrive in Hunsford. Mr. Collins takes care to point out every lovely thing in his home, to give Elizabeth the chance to regret that it’s not hers.

Charlotte takes her around the house and Elizabeth can tell that her friend likes her life, especially when she can forget that Mr. Collins is part of it.

At dinner, Elizabeth learns that she will be able to meet Lady Catherine during church on Sunday.

The next day, Elizabeth has a chance to observe Miss de Bourgh, Lady Catherine’s daughter. She looks "sickly and cross." This, Elizabeth reflects, is perfect. If Miss de Bourgh is to marry Mr. Darcy, she will be the perfect companion for him.

Charlotte lets them know that Miss de Bourgh has invited them all to dine at Rosings Park, the de Bourgh estate, the next day.

Part II, Chapter Six

Mr. Collins is deeply gratified that the visitors will be able to see the splendor of his benefactress’s estate. They talk of nothing else the rest of the day.

Lady Catherine is authoritative but kind. Her daughter is extremely thin, small, and sickly.

Lady Catherine is also a bit of a bore; there is little to do but listen to her, and she talks unceasingly.

She asks Elizabeth an amazing number of questions – how many sisters she has, whether one of them would soon get married, where they had been educated, what had been her mother’s maiden name, etc.

Elizabeth feels her questions are impertinent but answers as best she can.

Lady Catherine also chides Elizabeth for never having a governess, as if that was Elizabeth’s fault.

Part II, Chapter Seven

Elizabeth discovers that Lady Catherine is concerned with the tiniest details of her parish.

Charlotte and Mr. Collins spend a lot of time with Lady Catherine. They dine at Rosings twice a week.

As Easter approaches, they learn that Mr. Darcy is expected at Rosings in a few weeks’ time.

When Mr. Darcy arrives, Mr. Collins visits Rosings to meet him. When he returns, Mr. Darcy accompanies him.

Charlotte turns to Elizabeth to thank her, saying Darcy never would have come to visit so soon if Elizabeth hadn’t been there.

Mr. Darcy inquires after Elizabeth’s family’s health.

To jolt him, Elizabeth says her sister has been in London for three months. Has he never had opportunity to see her?

He seems a little confused as he answers that he has not been fortunate enough to meet Miss Bennet while in London.

Ok…. Chapter 8 is a little lengthy ….but very important J

Part II, Chapter Eight

A week later, they are invited to come to Rosings.

Lady Catherine greets them but it’s clear that she prefers other people’s company; she spends most of the time talking to her nephews, especially Darcy.

Darcy’s cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam seems very glad to see them, and Elizabeth catches his interest. He sits beside her and entertains her so well that Darcy’s eyes are repeatedly drawn to them.

Lady Catherine also notices. She wants to know what they are talking about.

When Fitzwilliam replies that they are discussing music, she starts jabbering on and on about it. She says that Charlotte doesn’t know how to play, but that Elizabeth is welcome to use the piano in the housekeeper’s room.

Fitzwilliam reminds Elizabeth that she promised to play for him and she does so.

Mr. Darcy positions himself so he can see Elizabeth’s entire face. She stops playing to let him know that he can’t intimidate her; she is too stubborn to let somebody else alter her behavior.

He replies that he will not tell her she’s mistaken because he believes she already knows that and, furthermore, she often expresses opinions that are not really hers.

She laughs at his witty reply. Then she says it is unwise of him to portray her thus, when she can reveal his own shocking behavior to his relatives.

What shocking behavior would this be? Elizabeth is probably thinking of Wickham’s story, but she chickens out and simply describes how, on the first night they met, he danced only four dances even though the male/female ratio left lots of women without partners.

Darcy explains that he has difficulty talking to people he doesn’t know. The man’s just shy!

Elizabeth doesn’t buy his excuse, arguing that although other women play the piano better than her, she can only blame herself because she does not take the time to practice. The lesson to Darcy is clear: he needs to practice talking to strangers and being nice.

Lady Catherine comes over and begins commenting on Elizabeth’s playing – her strengths and weaknesses and how much she would improve if she were to practice more.

Part II, Chapter Nine

Mr. Darcy comes to the Collins' house and finds Elizabeth alone. They have an awkward conversation.

When Charlotte returns, he stays for a few minutes, then makes his excuses and leaves.

Charlotte declares that he must be in love with Elizabeth to come calling in such a familiar way.

Elizabeth laughs at that idea, explaining that they barely talked to each other.

The two women decide that Darcy probably didn’t have anything better to do.

Darcy and Fitzwilliam visit often. Fitzwilliam is pleasant and reminds Elizabeth of George Wickham. Darcy is still Darcy – sullen and quiet.

Charlotte examines and analyzes Darcy. She still thinks it is possible that he has a crush on Elizabeth.

What a good stopping point!

 If you’ve read the book before or seen any of the movies…then you obviously know what happens.

However, for those of you who have neither read nor seen the movie….at this point in the novel …anything can happen!

For our discussion today, I would like for you to think about what you wish to happen further in the novel. Most people think about these things already but some people become so involved in the novel that they never take the time to actually think about the possibilities. Someone once gave me a couple of ideas to go along with making this list…

1. Make your list of possibilities and tuck them away in the back of your book so that when you finish the novel, you can look at what you had written.

2. You could use your newly created list as a bookmark and check off the possibilities on your list as they either happen or cross them out when the opposite occurs.

*I'm doing the 2nd idea on another book that I am reading.

 I'll have to share what I have with you on another post :)

Keep reading, Only 3 more weeks of discussion days!

Next Saturday we will be discussing the remaining chapters of part 2!!!!

Optimistically, Bethany Lea